Donations focused on meeting new WHO targets for maximum impact against
NTDs

Builds on industry's long-standing record of innovating treatments for
neglected tropical diseases

GENEVA, Jan. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Today the research-based pharmaceutical
industry announced donations of 14 billion treatments this decade to
support the elimination or control of nine key neglected tropical
diseases (NTDs). Averaging 1.4 billion treatments annually, the
donations build upon companies' existing medicines donation programmes
which already reach millions of people around the world. Today's
announcement comes in conjunction with an NTD collaboration comprised
of pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the
US and UK governments, international organisations, and endemic
countries' national governments.

At least one billion people worldwide - one person in seven - suffer
from NTDs. Each year NTDs disproportionately kill or disable millions
of poor people primarily in tropical and subtropical areas.

These donations follow a World Health Organisation (WHO) announcement of
new targets for NTDs whose elimination or control is achievable with
adequate supply and distribution of the relevant medicines. For maximum
impact, these donations focus on those nine NTDs that represent more
than 90 percent of the global NTD burden.

"For decades individual pharmaceutical companies have researched,
developed, and donated medicines to fight disease and improve patients'
lives," said Eduardo Pisani, Director-General of the International
Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).
"Today the research-based pharmaceutical industry jointly pledges a
further 14 billion treatments to help end these debilitating diseases.
This is our commitment as partners to help end NTDs and improve patient
health."

In addition to medicine donations, the research-based pharmaceutical
industry supports the fight against NTDs with capacity-building efforts
in developing countries and medical innovation. The research-based
pharmaceutical industry was the second largest funder of R&D for
neglected diseases in 2010, reaching more than USD 500 million.

IFPMA represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies and
associations across the globe. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official
relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to
help the global health community find solutions that improve global
health.http://www.ifpma.org

SOURCE International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations